Vissage confirmed McKenna has a spinal injury and has been told the same information shared publicly by family that McKenna is paralyzed from the chest down.

The crash investigation is ongoing, Vissage said. Because of injuries to both girls, state DNR investigators have not yet had a chance to get statements from them, or to find out if the two were still on the watercraft when the watercraft smashed into a retaining wall.

Coverage of the Lake Wylie crash and the second girl's heroism that came exclusively from The Herald now has reached as far as New York and England, with stories by the New York Post and Daily Mail.

Thomas Finlay, executive director of the Carolina Rapids soccer club based near Lake Norman, N.C., said the family has shared with the club that McKenna is currently paralyzed. The club started a GoFundme page with a goal of $20,000, but that goal was exceeded more than three times in days.

"McKenna is a wonderful young person and people have really stepped up to help," Finlay said.

The club is planning a fundraiser from ticket sales at an August Charlotte Independence soccer game and a T-shirt sale with all proceeds going to the family.